If you’re questioning whether your Greensburg house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common origins of bad IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a pro like Wallpe Heating & Cooling about which products are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from common household things.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

  • Furniture
  • Carpet
  • Building materials
  • Cleaning products
  • Cosmetics
  • Air fresheners
  • Candles

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Modern houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is right for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

Our pros suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in big levels.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is running like it should. This service allows our specialists to see issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on every floor by bedrooms and living spaces.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Wallpe Heating & Cooling Specialists

Know that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 812-663-7252 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you find the best equipment for your home and budget.